Senior Early Years Practitioner at Jelly Babies Day Nursery

Jelly Babies Day Nursery has grown from strength to strength and we are looking for our newest member of the team! Based at and supported by Coastland College, Jelly Babies is registered with OFSTED to provide excellent early years education and care. We have three beautiful rooms, all recently renovated, to provide care and provision from our youngest babies to our growing pre-schoolers.

Jelly Babies has continued to develop into a welcoming natural based setting where outdoor learning and following children’s interests are paramount. We invite parents into a secure and relaxed environment where adults and children work together, creating a close-knit team and fantastic relationships with our families, children and other professionals.

Due to the Government Childcare initiatives and our fantastic environment, we are at full capacity with a growing waiting list. This is an exciting time for us here at Jelly Babies and we are looking for the right people to join us!

We would like to welcome applications for a Senior Early Years Practitioner, who can build good relationships with the team and lead our mixed pre-school room. We all work together here at Jelly Babies however the Senior role includes:

• Be a positive role model for their colleagues

• Work closely with the management team to ensure effective ‘in the moment’ planning, utilising the Early Years Foundation Stage. Ensuring an effective individual approach to our children and promoting their best outcomes.       We promote less paperwork to spend as much time with our children!

• Making sure our setting is a fair and inclusive environment. We are an equal opportunity setting and work hard to ensure all children, regardless of need, are accepted and encouraged to their full potential.

• Liaising with our parents/carers and ensuring effective partnerships in our Jelly Babies family.

• Providing a safe and secure environment, working closely with leaders to ensure effective safeguarding.

• Promoting school readiness and working closely with our partners at local schools, to ensure our children are ready for their next big steps.

We are welcoming applications from Level 3 or above Early Years Practitioners, with previous senior/room lead experience or those looking to step up into their first senior role.

This position is offered at 37 hours a week – Full time across 50 weeks.

Hours are flexible across the week, Jelly Babies is open from 7.30am-5.30pm and hours/set pattern will be discussed alongside the right applicant. We welcome discussions around flexible hours.

Staff benefits include:

• Strong support for continual learning and development with dedicated Continuing Professional Development learning days and access to College learning opportunities – including a range of low-cost course opportunities

• Opportunities for progression

• A generous annual leave entitlement

• A commitment to work-life balance and family-friendly policies

• Access to generous pension schemes

• Access to our leisure and wellbeing facilities including a sports programme and gym and reduced priced wellbeing treatments, as well as a comprehensive wellbeing offer for employees

• Free car parking and excellent catering facilities

• Staff discounts at many of our on-site facilities, including hair and beauty salons, restaurant, theatre and more

• Reduced nursery fees at the on-site nursery, Jelly Babies (space availability may vary)

Who we are:

Coastland College is a General Further Education College spread across two campuses – one situated on the stunning Jurassic coastline in Weymouth and the other on a beautiful 18th Century Estate near the market town of Dorchester. As a newly united organisation, we’re bringing together the best of both Weymouth College and Kingston Maurward College to create an even stronger learning experience, with enhanced resources, a broader range of courses and industry-standard facilities.

We are Connected | We are Courageous | We are Dynamic | We are Empowering | We are Welcoming

With our combined expertise and resources, Coastland College is now one of the most dynamic and versatile further education providers in the region. From A-Levels to vocational courses and land-based studies to Apprenticeships, we have one purpose: to inspire our students and apprentices for individual success beyond expectation, ensuring that they are future-ready and prepared for today and tomorrow’s world.

The important bit:

Coastland College is committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check. A copy of our Safeguarding Policy can be found on the College website.

Please see our Job Description & Person Specification for more information about the role and what it’s like to be part of our team.

Don’t meet every single requirement?

We recognise that talent comes in various forms and so are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive and sustainable environment for all, that celebrates diversity. If you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement on the job description or you are seeking an alternative working pattern, please apply anyway – you may just be the person we are looking for. All we ask is that you make this clear in your application so that we can take this forward to the next stage of the selection process. In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use.

We do not engage with recruitment agencies for this role. Any CVs received from agencies will be considered as unsolicited and the property of the Coastland College, with no obligation to pay agency fees.

Please be advised that this vacancy may be closed prior to the advertised closing date should we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications.